Developing Your
Unique Spiritual Power: Part Two

“Blessed are You Hashem, Who is
giving the Torah.” (Conclusion
of the Daily Blessing of the
Torah)

Dear Friends,

Rav Aharon Kotler was a leading
sage of the last century who was
also the founder and Rosh
Yeshiva (Head) of the Lakewood
Yeshiva – a school for advanced
Torah study. A wonderful book
about his life and teachings was
published by Feldheim: “The
Legacy of Maran Rav Aharon
Kotler” by Rabbi Yitzchok
Dershowitz. Within this very
inspiring work, the author gives
us the following summary of Rav
Aharon’s teachings on how the
Torah develops and expands our
potential:

_________________________

Everyone has great potential and
they can achieve a lot more than
they imagine. Hashem enjoins
everyone, “Open your mouth wide
and I will fill it” (Psalm
81:11). Hashem gives generously!
Everyone has a wonderful portion
in Torah which he can acquire.
Yes, the Holy One, Blessed be
He, says, “And I will fill it”;
however, you must do your part!
You must desire it. You must
pray for it! You must dedicate
and immerse yourself in Torah.
All this is part of, “Open your
mouth wide.”

Not only is your portion in
Torah greater than you imagine,
even your potential – your
capacity to learn Torah – can be
expanded. This is because “I
will fill it” has a second
meaning based on another vital
principle in Torah learning. In
nature, a filled vessel cannot
take in more, due to lack of
space. When it comes to Torah,
the opposite is true – the more
one fills himself with Torah and
mitzvos, the more he can
subsequently learn.

This, explains the Rosh Yeshiva,
is because the Torah actually
“expands”a person’s
nefesh (soul). Thus, a
person errs if he judges his
potential according to his
capacity of today, because
expanding his nefesh
means that his very capacity
to absorb Torah becomes greater.
And when one uses his newly
expanded capabilities to toil
and absorb Torah, those
abilities become that much
greater. This process, too, is
included in the Torah’s
admonition of “Open your mouth
wide.” It means expand your
vessels, your potential –
And I will fill that too.

Since the process continues on
and on, don’t limit yourself.
Aspire for greatness in Torah,
and with that, aspire for all
the greatness in spirit and deed
that the light of Torah can give
a person – when it enters.

In addition to all the above,
Rav Kotler pointed out that
whereas one could achieve
greatness at all times, in our
times – the post Holocaust era –
we can achieve even more
success, as we are helping to
replace the great loss of Torah
which took place during the
Holocaust. He therefore said to
his students: “In our times, you
can grow more than would
normally be expected, as long as
the learning is with diligence
and purity.” And he also said:

“Why do we find that today’s
students grow more in Torah than
is warranted by their abilities
and by their efforts? This is
the fulfillment of Hashem’s
guarantee that the Torah will
never be forgotten by the
Community of Israel.”

____________________________________________

The Divine guarantee mentioned
by Rav Aharon is found in the
following verse:

“And as for Me, this My
covenant, shall remain their
very being,” said Hashem; “My
spirit which rests upon you and
My words which I have placed in
your mouth shall not depart from
your mouth nor from the mouths
of your children nor from the
mouths of your children’s
children,” said Hashem,” from
now on to all eternity.” (Isaiah
59:21 – translation of Rabbi
Samson Raphael Hirsch)

The words of this covenant will
give us an inner light that will
lead to greatness in spirit and
deed, as Rav Aharon said,
“Aspire for greatness in Torah,
and with that, aspire for all
the greatness in spirit and deed
that the light of Torah can give
a person – when it enters.”

We desire to be filled with this
light not just for ourselves,
for the light of Torah is to
inspire all people and all
nations. In this spirit, Hashem
told us:

“I will set you as a covenant
for people, as a light for the
nations” (Isaiah 42:6).

And when this goal will be
fulfilled, promised Hashem:
”Nations will walk by your
light” (Isaiah 60:3).

Light and Shalom,

Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen (See
below)

P.S. The above insights from Rav
Aharon Kotler are cited in the
book, “The Legacy of Maran Rav
Aharon Kotler” by Rabbi Yitzchok
Dershowitz. This amazing and
uplifting work is about the life
and teachings of one of the
great spiritual leaders of our
people during the 20th
century. This leading sage also
had a major role in helping many
American Jews to rediscover the
joy and power of Torah study.
The teachings and stories in
this book can help us to become
the spiritual children of this
great sage. This book also helps
us to appreciate the life-giving
power of Torah study and how
each of us can tap into this
source of power. I have
personally become spiritually
stronger after reading it.

It is especially appropriate for
the Chanukah season of light,
when we rededicate ourselves to
the study of Torah, for as King
Solomon said, “Torah is light”
(Proverbs 6:23). This work is
published by Feldheim:
www.feldheim.com